Legend plays a role on two stages today with the Rawillers, led by Nash and brother Brad, prime to continue the trend set by Campbell, only 22, earlier this week at Warrnambool where the turf is still a spectator sport.
Campbell, son of Nash and once a student at the Swans academy before being lured back to the saddle, was declared the “new star of the Bool”.
Nash Rawiller and Atishu will unite again on Saturday.Credit: Getty
Meanwhile, Nash will be out to continue to make a difference at the Sunshine Coast, venue for the Hollindale Stakes meeting traditionally held at the Gold Coast now undergoing repatriation, while Brad, who showed the family power at Rosehill last Saturday, gets the chance to make an impression at the very attractive standalone Gosford program.
Certainly, the presence of dual acceptor, three-year-old Fashion Legend in Gosford’s Takeover Target has enhanced proceedings as she has won her last four and bypassed the easier Gold Coast Guineas for the assignment.
Trained by Richard and Will Freedman, the filly is a member of the Bon Ho string made prominent by Everest winner Classique Legend.
On Wednesday another Legend caught the eye if not the boom of Chris Waller’s Kandinsky Abstract, a $3 million yearling purchase, who downed Ho’s Celestial Legend coming to hand nicely for Les Bridge, who did so well with the aforementioned Classique.
Campbell Rawiller had a successful Warrnambool meeting.Credit: Getty
Waller again will be out to get the Nash Rawiller edge produced at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Sure the jockey was wide on Kovalica but his vigour won the Queensland Guineas, only to see himself replaced in the upcoming Queensland Derby by James McDonald.
Earlier the flailing arms and legs of Nash proved vital to take the Victory Stakes on Rothfire, and he will need the tough and strength on Waller’s Atishu who is taking on red-hot favourite Zaaki chasing his third straight in the group 2 Hollindale.
Best Bets decreed Atishu the danger but “will likely need to produce a Bernborough-like sectional to get to the leaders, let alone pass them”. Given a slow surface and the Rawiller factor it is a possibility.
At his best Zaaki will win but despite the expertise of Annabel Neasham eight-year-olds can put in a below-standard effort: consider the third in the Doomben Cup at $1.24 last year.
Zaaki disappointed in the Doomben Cup last year.Credit: Racing Photos
Scarlet Tufty, too, is seeking the Nash lift in the Thank You. Scarlet Tufty has three wins but nine placings to his credit. Something extra from the saddle is required, and Brad, an accomplished group 1 jockey, has the family knack evident on Coal Crusher at Rosehill last Saturday. He gets the chance at Gosford to improve Turncoat, tuned by Kim Waugh, in the Midway. Ridden by J-Mac last start Turning was frustrated with dead ends and was beaten under a length.
Waller, too, has joined the move towards Brad engaging him for Rediener in the Tooheys. Rediener scored for Joao Moreira at Randwick last start when the magic was sparkling.
Subsequently, though, at Hawkesbury it was dormant, particularly on Lord Ardmore, a strong fancy in the Gosford Cup. Lord Ardmore began slow and “never saw daylight”. Brett Prebble today will give him a better passage in a navigational test where Waller holds a strong hand with other stable considerations being Desert Icon (Kerrin McEvoy) and Quality Time (Sam Clipperton). The best ride will win.
Prebble and Brad Rawiller, more recently from Victoria, confirm the strength of NSW with classy apprentices enhancing the standard.
But Cameron Rawiller spent time here on the flat, lured away from the saddle for a time by AFL, but the family has a trend towards the jumps in general and Warrnambool in particular. With three wins from six attempts over jumps Cameron hummed this week with his Bool double, hands and head a highlight, attributes dearly needed by the Swans against Collingwood on Sunday.
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